Photo by Garfield Douglas
Photo by Garfield Douglas

Pitching, offense lead to quick sweep of Scots by Seahawks

NEWPORT, R.I. - Sophomores Kara O'Riley (Acton, Mass.) and Nikki Bukovsky (Westport, Conn.) produced a four and five RBI day at the plate, respectively, as Salve Regina University softball swept a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader from Gordon College by scores of 14-0 and 11-1, both ending in five innings.

The Seahawks win their third straight and improve to 7-9 overall (5-1 in the CCC) while the Scots fall for the 11th straight time dropping their record to 1-14 (0-4 in CCC play).

A nine-run first inning for Salve Regina put game one out of reach early. Bukovsky led off the frame with a walk, Melissa Figueiredo (East Bridgewater, Mass.) beat out a bunt for a single, and O'Riley delivered both with a one-out double to centerfield.

Outfielder Lexi Soucie (No. Easton, Mass.) went to left center for a two-run double, plating O'Riley and Courtney Nowicki (Northford, Conn.). Skye Hart (Hope Valley, R.I.) singled through the right side for an RBI.

Before the Seahawks reached the ninth batter in the lineup, the Scots made a pitching change with one out in the inning, trailing 5-0. Francesca Galeazzi (Lynn, Mass.) greeted Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) with a bunt single to load the bases.

Bukovsky drew a walk with the bases full to add to her league-leading RBI total. A couple of wild pitches and a ground out led to three other runs in the first inning for Salve Regina.

Kline had a one-out double down the left-field line for the first basehit and first base runner for Gordon against Seahawk starter Nicole Parry (Quincy, Mass.). Parry fanned seven and allowed just two hits, her only base runners, to raise her season record to 4-4.

Sophomore Kelsey Boarman (No. Dighton, Mass.) proved just as dominant in the pitcher's circle in game two, as she retired the first 11 Scots she faced, recording six strikeouts in the process. Boarman K'd the side swinging in the top of the second.

An unearned run in the first gave Salve Regina a 1-0 lead into the third when Soucie's ground out produced the second run.

The Seahawks enjoyed their second nine-run inning of the day in the fourth frame. Bukovsky had a pair of two-run singles in the inning. Junior catcher Genevieve Benoit (Swampscott, Mass.) also drove in two runs with her single.

Gordon spoiled the Boarman shutout bid with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. The Scots did not even get an RBI on the score as Galeazzi turned a grounder to second into a double play as Kline crossed the plate.

Salve Regina has now won eight of the last nine meetings with Gordon, outscoring the Scots, 79-8, over the last four seasons.

Both teams enjoy an Easter break and return to action next week. Salve Regina hosts UMass Boston in non-league action at Toppa Field on Monday (no classes) while Gordon travels to Nichols for a CCC twinbill on Tuesday.